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The bulletin of Atlanta University, 1909 no. 190

The bulletin of Atlanta University

Number 190 Atlanta, Georgia April, 1909 "The Negro American Family" In 1897 the Atlanta University Negro Conference made an investigation into the "Social and Physical Condition of Negroes in Cities," which involved a study of 4742 individuals gathered in 1137 families, living in 59 different groups, in 18 different cities. These data were compiled by the United States Department of Labor and published in Bulletin number ten; and, as the editor said, "Great credit is due the investigators for their work." The object of the investigation was to study the mortality of Negroes and the social and family conditions. The Study of Mortality was continued in 1906 by Atlanta University publication number eleven. The present study continues the study of social conditions from the point of view of the family group. This study is therefore a further carrying out of the Atlanta University plan of social study of the Negro American by means of an annual series of decennially recurring subjects covering, so far as is practicable, every phase of human life. The object of these studies is primarily scientific— a careful research for truth conducted as thoroughly, broadly and honestly as the material resources and mental equipment at command will allow; but this is not our sole object: we wish not only to make the truth more clear but to present it in such shape as will encourage and help social reform. The present study is divided into three parts: Marriage, the Home, Economics of the Family Group. Each section begins with African conditions, reviews the situation under slavery and ends with a consideration of the present situation. Under Marriage the question of divorce, and sexual morals is considered. Under Home a series of pictures and descriptions are introduced showing the evolution of the Negro Home. Under the Economics of the family the increase of Negro property in Georgia is noted as follows: Assessed Value of Total Property Owned by Negroes of Georgia, 1874 to 1907 Year Assessed Value Year Assessed Value 1874............$6,157,798 1891............$14,196,785 1875............ 5,398,885 1892............ 14,869,575 1876............5,488,867 1893............ 14,960,675 1877............ 5,430,844 1894............ 14,387,730 1878............ 5,124,875 1895............ 12,941,230 1879............ 5,182,398 1896............ 13,292,816 1880............ 5,764,293 1897............ 13,619,690 1881............ 6,478,951 1898............ 13,719,200 1882............ 6,589,876 1899............ 13,447,423 1883............ 7,582,395 1900............ 14,118,720 1884............ 8,021,525 1901............ 15,629,811 1885............ 8,153,390 1902............ 15,188,069 1886............ 8,655,298 1903............ 16,714,334 1887............ 8,936,479 1904............ 18,087,934 1888............ 9,631,271 1905..........;. 20,616,468 1889............10,415,330 1906............ 23,750,109 1890............12,322,003 1907............ 25,904,822 It is also noted that the records of Atlanta University show approximately the following facts indicating the strengthening of family life: Atlanta University Proportion of Students Date Supported Self- by family supported 1878-1879 ................... 37.4% 62.6% 1887-1888.................... 42.3% 57.7% 1897-1898.................... 51.4% 48.6% 1907-1908.................... 68.8% 31.2% This study of "The Negro American Family," edited by Professor DuBois, is being issued by the Atlanta University Press. The price is seventy-five cents. Orders may be sent to the corresponding secretary of the Atlanta University Conference. President Eliot's Visit and Address at Atlanta University During his recent trip in the South, Pres. Charles W. Eliot spent about two days in Atlanta as the guest of Mr. H. M. Atkinson, and the Harvard Alumni Association. He gave addresses during that time at two of the educational institutions of this city, at the Georgia Technological School and at Atlanta University. We count his visit to us a peculiar honor because there were so many demands upon his time, and the weather was so untoward ; nevertheless he came out Saturday afternoon and met the teachers and students from the boarding department and a number of representative colored people, who on short notice had come to the chapel. Music and Liberal Education The students sang several Old Time songs which greatly pleased Mr. Eliot. Pres. Ware accorded to Prof. DuBois, as an alumnus of Harvard University, the honor of introducing the president of the oldest college in the land to speak to the teachers and students of the oldest college in Atlanta. In his opening remarks Mr. Eliot complimented the students upon their singing, saying that a few days before when he was at Fisk University he thought there was no other American university where the body of students could sing so well. Now he knew that there was another. Music, he said, was one of the seven subjects mentioned in the first courses of study of which we have any knowledge, and being one of these subjects it was considered essential to the liberal education of all highly cultured men. "In my own opinion," he said, "it remains in that station. It has been too much neglected in the schools and colleges of this country, and you men and women of color have a peculiar power and facility in this element of a liberal education. Leadership of the Race "This institution is intended to train men and women for professional callings, for teaching, for the ministry; it has thus two of the most precious duties to perform. Now, is it not clear that the colored race in our land must have its own representatives in all departments of professional life? Is it not clear that if these two widely differing races are to live beside each other in amity and prosperity, in advancing civilization, that the colored race must have men and women equipped for leadership? Labor and Saving "The lifting of a race in cultivation, in honor, in industry, in the family life, depends in general, first, upon education, university education, and education in all stages of the intellectual life ; and then too upon the gradual growth of the race in two indispensable attributes of civilized man, —one is the sav ing faculty, the disposition to go without present gratification in order to obtain the means of future more substantial and durable satisfactions. This is one great virtue of ,,the civilized world. First comes education, then the disposi-Conlinued on third page.

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Transcript

Number 190 Atlanta, Georgia April, 1909 "The Negro American Family" In 1897 the Atlanta University Negro Conference made an investigation into the "Social and Physical Condition of Negroes in Cities," which involved a study of 4742 individuals gathered in 1137 families, living in 59 different groups, in 18 different cities. These data were compiled by the United States Department of Labor and published in Bulletin number ten; and, as the editor said, "Great credit is due the investigators for their work." The object of the investigation was to study the mortality of Negroes and the social and family conditions. The Study of Mortality was continued in 1906 by Atlanta University publication number eleven. The present study continues the study of social conditions from the point of view of the family group. This study is therefore a further carrying out of the Atlanta University plan of social study of the Negro American by means of an annual series of decennially recurring subjects covering, so far as is practicable, every phase of human life. The object of these studies is primarily scientific— a careful research for truth conducted as thoroughly, broadly and honestly as the material resources and mental equipment at command will allow; but this is not our sole object: we wish not only to make the truth more clear but to present it in such shape as will encourage and help social reform. The present study is divided into three parts: Marriage, the Home, Economics of the Family Group. Each section begins with African conditions, reviews the situation under slavery and ends with a consideration of the present situation. Under Marriage the question of divorce, and sexual morals is considered. Under Home a series of pictures and descriptions are introduced showing the evolution of the Negro Home. Under the Economics of the family the increase of Negro property in Georgia is noted as follows: Assessed Value of Total Property Owned by Negroes of Georgia, 1874 to 1907 Year Assessed Value Year Assessed Value 1874............$6,157,798 1891............$14,196,785 1875............ 5,398,885 1892............ 14,869,575 1876............5,488,867 1893............ 14,960,675 1877............ 5,430,844 1894............ 14,387,730 1878............ 5,124,875 1895............ 12,941,230 1879............ 5,182,398 1896............ 13,292,816 1880............ 5,764,293 1897............ 13,619,690 1881............ 6,478,951 1898............ 13,719,200 1882............ 6,589,876 1899............ 13,447,423 1883............ 7,582,395 1900............ 14,118,720 1884............ 8,021,525 1901............ 15,629,811 1885............ 8,153,390 1902............ 15,188,069 1886............ 8,655,298 1903............ 16,714,334 1887............ 8,936,479 1904............ 18,087,934 1888............ 9,631,271 1905..........;. 20,616,468 1889............10,415,330 1906............ 23,750,109 1890............12,322,003 1907............ 25,904,822 It is also noted that the records of Atlanta University show approximately the following facts indicating the strengthening of family life: Atlanta University Proportion of Students Date Supported Self- by family supported 1878-1879 ................... 37.4% 62.6% 1887-1888.................... 42.3% 57.7% 1897-1898.................... 51.4% 48.6% 1907-1908.................... 68.8% 31.2% This study of "The Negro American Family," edited by Professor DuBois, is being issued by the Atlanta University Press. The price is seventy-five cents. Orders may be sent to the corresponding secretary of the Atlanta University Conference. President Eliot's Visit and Address at Atlanta University During his recent trip in the South, Pres. Charles W. Eliot spent about two days in Atlanta as the guest of Mr. H. M. Atkinson, and the Harvard Alumni Association. He gave addresses during that time at two of the educational institutions of this city, at the Georgia Technological School and at Atlanta University. We count his visit to us a peculiar honor because there were so many demands upon his time, and the weather was so untoward ; nevertheless he came out Saturday afternoon and met the teachers and students from the boarding department and a number of representative colored people, who on short notice had come to the chapel. Music and Liberal Education The students sang several Old Time songs which greatly pleased Mr. Eliot. Pres. Ware accorded to Prof. DuBois, as an alumnus of Harvard University, the honor of introducing the president of the oldest college in the land to speak to the teachers and students of the oldest college in Atlanta. In his opening remarks Mr. Eliot complimented the students upon their singing, saying that a few days before when he was at Fisk University he thought there was no other American university where the body of students could sing so well. Now he knew that there was another. Music, he said, was one of the seven subjects mentioned in the first courses of study of which we have any knowledge, and being one of these subjects it was considered essential to the liberal education of all highly cultured men. "In my own opinion," he said, "it remains in that station. It has been too much neglected in the schools and colleges of this country, and you men and women of color have a peculiar power and facility in this element of a liberal education. Leadership of the Race "This institution is intended to train men and women for professional callings, for teaching, for the ministry; it has thus two of the most precious duties to perform. Now, is it not clear that the colored race in our land must have its own representatives in all departments of professional life? Is it not clear that if these two widely differing races are to live beside each other in amity and prosperity, in advancing civilization, that the colored race must have men and women equipped for leadership? Labor and Saving "The lifting of a race in cultivation, in honor, in industry, in the family life, depends in general, first, upon education, university education, and education in all stages of the intellectual life ; and then too upon the gradual growth of the race in two indispensable attributes of civilized man, —one is the sav ing faculty, the disposition to go without present gratification in order to obtain the means of future more substantial and durable satisfactions. This is one great virtue of ,,the civilized world. First comes education, then the disposi-Conlinued on third page.